US: Weekly initial claims was 245,000, unchanged from previous week

"In the week ending December 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 245,000, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised level of 245,000," the US Department of Labor reported on Thursday.

Key highlights

The 4-week moving average was 237,750, an increase of 1,750 from the previous week's unrevised average of 236,000. 

Claims taking procedures continue to be disrupted in the Virgin Islands. The claims taking process in Puerto Rico has still not returned to normal. 

The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 1.4 percent for the week ending December 16, unchanged from the previous week's unrevised rate. 

The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending December 16 was 1,943,000, an increase of 7,000 from the previous week's revised level.